Name Meaning: The name "Abednego" is of Babylonian origin, meaning "servant of Nebo," with Nebo being a Babylonian deity associated with wisdom and writing.

Biblical References: Abednego is prominently mentioned in the Book of Daniel, specifically in Daniel 1:7, 3:12-30.

Historical Context: Abednego was one of the young Jewish men taken into Babylonian captivity during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II. Along with his companions, Hananiah (Shadrach) and Mishael (Meshach), Abednego was selected for his potential to serve in the king's court. These young men were chosen for their physical appearance, wisdom, and aptitude for learning, as described in Daniel 1:3-4.

Identity and Name Change: Originally named Azariah, Abednego was given his Babylonian name by the chief official of King Nebuchadnezzar's court. This renaming was part of the Babylonian strategy to assimilate the captives into their culture and religion (Daniel 1:7).

Faith and Trial by Fire: Abednego is best known for his unwavering faith in God, which is dramatically illustrated in the account of the fiery furnace. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar erected a massive golden statue and commanded all his subjects to worship it. Abednego, along with Shadrach and Meshach, refused to bow down to the idol, remaining steadfast in their devotion to the God of Israel.

When confronted by the king, they boldly declared their faith, saying, "If the God we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

Miraculous Deliverance: Enraged by their defiance, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded that the three men be thrown into it. The heat was so intense that it killed the soldiers who cast them into the fire. However, Abednego and his companions were unharmed, and a fourth figure, described as "like a son of the gods," appeared with them in the flames (Daniel 3:25).

Nebuchadnezzar, witnessing this miraculous event, called them out of the furnace. Not a hair on their heads was singed, nor were their clothes scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. This led the king to praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, acknowledging His power to save and decreeing that no one should speak against their God (Daniel 3:28-29).

Legacy: Abednego's account is a powerful testament to faith and divine deliverance. His courage and commitment to God in the face of persecution have inspired countless believers throughout history. The account of Abednego, along with Shadrach and Meshach, serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the protection He offers to those who remain faithful to Him.Abednego

servant of light; shining

Abednego

(i.e. servant of Nego, perhaps the same as Nebo), the Chaldean name given to Azariah, one of the three friends of Daniel, miraculously save from the fiery furnace. Dan. 3. (B.C. about 600.)

Abednego

Servant of Nego; a Chaldee name give to Azariah, one of the three captive young princes of Judah, who were Daniel's companions at the court of the king of Babylon, Daniel 1:7. Their virtue, wisdom, and piety secured their promotion at court, Daniel 1:3-19 2:17,49; and their steadfastness in witnessing for God among idolaters, with their deliverance from the fiery furnace by the Angel-Jehovah, led many to acknowledge the true God, and rendered these pious youth for ever illustrious as monuments of the excellence and safety of faith in Him, Daniel 3:1-30 Hebrews 11:34. See FURNACE.

Servant of Nego=Nebo, the Chaldee name given to Azariah, one of Daniel's three companions (Dan. 2:49). With Shadrach and Meshach, he was delivered from the burning fiery furnace (3:12-30). ABED-NEGO

a-bed'-ne-go (Hebrew and Aramaic `abhedh neghgo; Daniel 3:29, `abhedh negho'): According to many, the nego is an intentional corruption of Nebo, the name of a Babylonian god, arising from the desire of the Hebrew scribes to avoid the giving of a heathen name to a hero of their faith. The name, according to this view, would mean "servant of Nebo." Inasmuch as `abhedh is a translation of the Babylonian `arad, it seems ore probable that nego also must be a translation of some Babylonian word. The goddess Ishtar is by the Babylonians called "the morning star" and "the perfect light" (nigittu gitmaltu). The morning star is called by the Arameans nogah, "the shining one," a word derived from the root negah, the equivalent of the Babylonian nagu, "to shine." Abed-nego, according to this interpretation, would be the translation of Arad-Ishtar, a not uncommon name among the Assyrians and Babylonians. Canon Johns gives this as the name of more than thirty Assyrians, who are mentioned on the tablets cited by him in Vol. III of his great work entitled Assyrian Deeds and Documents. It means "servant of Ishtar."

Abed-nego was one of the three companions of Daniel, and was the name imposed upon the Hebrew Azariah by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:7). Having refused, along with his friends, to eat the provisions of the king's table, he was fed and flourished upon pulse and water. Having successfully passed his examinations and escaped the death with which the wise men of Babylon were threatened, he was appointed at the request of Daniel along with his companions over the affairs of the province of Babylon (Daniel 2). Having refused to bow down to the image which Nebuehadnezzar had set up, he was cast into the burning fiery furnace, and after his triumphant delivery he was caused by the king to prosper in the province of Babylon (Daniel 3). The three friends are referred to by name in 1 Maccabees 2:59, and by implication in Hebrews 11:33, 34.

R. Dick Wilson

The Test by Fire
... furnace. There are certain Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you
have placed in charge of the province of Babylon. These ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the test by fire.htm

The Fiery Furnace
... "There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 41 the fiery furnace.htm

The Four Captive Children.
... Among the rulers were the three friends of Daniel, whose names had been
changed by the king to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxi the four captive.htm

On Daniel. Iii. Scholia on Daniel.
... 16. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered," etc. ... 93 (ie, 26). "And he said, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego." The three youths he thus called by name. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on daniel iii scholia on.htm

A Letter from Origen to Africanus.
... and say that His mercy endureth to all generations." [3029] But in the Hebrew copies
the words, "And these three men, Sedrach, Misach, and Abednego fell down ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens letters/a letter from origen to.htm

Daniel, the Praying Captive
... He classed Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, with
these men, though there really was nothing in them in common with the two ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/x daniel the praying captive.htm

The Song of the Three Children
... for ever.' It was proper to do so: because the Ananias, Azarias, and Misael mentioned
in it, are the same as the Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, whose story ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon iv the song of.htm

In the Court of Babylon
... the captive youth were placed, "gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to
Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 39 in the court.htm

The Prolonged Life of the Ancients, the Translation of Elijah and ...
... of the ancients, the translation of Elijah and of Enoch in their own bodies, as
well as the preservation of Jonah, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter v the prolonged life of.htm

All Things have Been Created for the Service of Man the Deceits ...
... power of Antichrist. This was prefigured at the deluge, as afterwards by
the persecution of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 1. In ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxix all things have been.htm

Abednego (14 Occurrences)
... 33, 34. R. Dick Wilson. Multi-Version Concordance Abednego (14 Occurrences).
Judges 1:34 The Amorites forced the children of Dan into ...
/a/abednego.htm - 13k

Meshach (15 Occurrences)
... the Sumerian form of the Babylonian Cil-Asharidu, "the shadow of the prince," just
as Shadrach probably means "the servant of Sin," and Abednego the "servant ...
/m/meshach.htm - 12k

Shadrach (14 Occurrences)
... (see ABEDNEGO.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ... Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his
rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ...
/s/shadrach.htm - 14k

Blazing (27 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. ...
/b/blazing.htm - 14k

Responded (35 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I ...
/r/responded.htm - 16k

Furnace (35 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spoke, and ...
/f/furnace.htm - 22k

Fiery (47 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. ...
/f/fiery.htm - 21k

Affairs (27 Occurrences)
... Daniel 2:49 Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the ...
/a/affairs.htm - 14k

Abed'nego (14 Occurrences)
Abed'nego. Abednego, Abed'nego. Abed-nego . Multi-Version Concordance
Abed'nego (14 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Abednego, Abed'nego. Abed-nego . Reference ...
/a/abed'nego.htm - 10k

Abdon (8 Occurrences)

/a/abdon.htm - 13k

What should we learn from the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Nebuchadnezzar change Daniel's name to Belteshazzar? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Nebuchadnezzar? | GotQuestions.org

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